Gettysburg, Pa. (Nov. 18, 2020)—The Gettysburg Foundation has announced the 18th Annual
Remembrance Day Illumination event on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, is canceled.
The Remembrance Day Illumination, a commemoration of the Gettysburg National
Cemetery dedication in Nov. 1863, will not be rescheduled.
This year’s commemoration will feature a virtual tribute with a reading of the fallen that will be
posted on GettysburgFoundation.org and social channels Saturday, Nov. 21.
The decision to cancel the event in the Gettysburg National Cemetery was made following the
Pennsylvania Health Secretary’s announcement that all visitors to Pennsylvania are required to
have a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 14 days prior.
“The event relies on more than 150 volunteers – with a majority coming from out of state – to
place luminary candles on the 3,512 Civil War soldiers’ graves,” said Bethany Yingling, Friends
events manager for the Gettysburg Foundation.
“We thank all who volunteered, sponsored candles, made plans to attend and continue to make the commemoration ceremonies a moving and inspirational event,” added Yingling.